FERROELECTRIC RESPONSE OF POLYMER-DISPERSED CHIRAL SMECTIC-C-ASTERISK LIQUID-CRYSTAL COMPOSITES

We have studied a linear electro-optic (EO) effect in polymer-dispersed ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) composites. FLC droplets are formed in a photo-polymerized matrix, and they exhibit ferroelectric switching in a restricted geometry. It is found that there is essentially no hysteresis in the EO response and that the relaxation of the collective molecular rotation is on the hundred-microsecond time scale. It is suggested that the anisotropic interfacial interactions, produced by a rubbing process, play a critical role in orienting FLC droplets as well as the photo-sensitive polymer.